Michael Brough is Director of Strategic Engagement for the Leadership Roundtable.
Michael Brough wrote “Chapter 11: Standards for Excellence” for A Pastor’s Toolbox. His focus on accountability, performance indicators, and benchmarks signal a “management by objectives” approach to parish administration.
He begins the chapter with a spirituality of leadership. The priest-leader organizes, animates, and loves his parishioners — but is not necessarily the manager of the parish. Brough wrote that the pastor certainly does need “to know enough” about the complexities of parish administration, such as finances and human resources, “to make sure they’re being efficiently managed.” That is one of the hallmarks of the pastor who is an organizer-animator. But the pastor does not have to be the parish’s accountant or human resources manager.
Brough’s chapter lays out the contribution of the National Leadership Roundtable, with its eight “guiding principles” and its 55 “benchmarks.” These are professional standards for parish administration, and pastors should adhere to them. The roundtable provides pastors with materials to “protect” and “professionalize” the parish, materials such as “a predetermined set of goals and expectations” that can help measure the performance of the parish staff.
Brough’s chapter lays out the Roundtable’s philosophy and makes it clear how it can assist pastors to become better leaders.